I just reached the maximum level, and you want me to be a puppet emperor?

Chapter 617 Wouldn't I, the Khan, become a laughing stock? (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

Feng Shuo looked miserable, sighed deeply, pointed upwards, and said helplessly, "Old Batu, do you think I wanted this? It was Commander Cheng who gave the order! He told me to beat him to death, then lock him up, and said that without his order, not even the Heavenly King himself could release him! What could I do? Did I dare disobey?"

"Captain Cheng?!" Batu gasped, his mouth agape, unable to utter a word for a long time.

If it was Cheng Li's order, then this matter was completely beyond his comprehension.

Just who exactly is this Cheng Li?!

After Feng Shuo walked away with a sigh, Wang Jianjun also walked over with a solemn expression.

Batu quickly stepped forward and whispered the situation to the commander, then asked with great concern, "Supervisor, this is General Han's only son! What should we do next?"

After listening, Wang Jianjun remained silent for a long time, his expression shifting unpredictably before finally letting out a long sigh, his tone filled with an unprecedented sense of helplessness: "What can we do? We'll just have to see how it goes. This matter is beyond the reach of people of our rank. Just do your duty, guard Han Tie Pass, and wait and see what happens."

At this moment, his heart was already in turmoil.

He has offended the Chu family in the capital, the Khan of the North, and the imperial concubine in the palace, and now he has added the powerful Northern Army Commander to his list of enemies.

Who exactly is behind Cheng Li? Could he be the son of some prince?!
The thought flashed through his mind, and even he found it absurd, yet he couldn't find a more reasonable explanation.

After Wang Jianjun left with a heavy heart, Batu stood alone, a fine layer of cold sweat beading on his forehead.

He recalled Li Chen's usual lazy and casual demeanor, as if he had no enthusiasm for anything, and compared it with today's thunderous, domineering, and ruthless methods, he felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

This guy is usually very easy to talk to, but once he gets serious, he really goes all out to destroy you!

On the other side, in the elegant courtyard belonging to the Sumeru Lingxiao Pavilion inside Hantie Pass.

A disciple who had gone out to make purchases also quickly relayed the news of what had happened at the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau).

When they heard that Li Chen had not only brutally beaten Huyan Khan's nephew, but also seriously injured General Han's son and imprisoned him, the elder of Sumeru Lingxiao Pavilion and the beautiful female disciple named Lü Mumu both showed expressions of disbelief and shock.

A hint of worry and a strange light flashed in Lü Mumu's beautiful eyes. She asked softly, "Elder, this Commandant Cheng has caused such a great disaster. Should we lend a hand?"

The elder stroked his long beard, pondered for a moment, then slowly shook his head, his eyes gleaming with a knowing light: "Mu Mu, perhaps we don't need to take action. Haven't you realized it yet? This Commandant Cheng acts so recklessly and lawlessly, which can only mean one thing: he doesn't take these so-called powerful people seriously at all, or rather, he has absolute confidence and is unafraid of any consequences. Perhaps we should just be bystanders."

He sighed inwardly: If his disciple's information was correct, this kid wasn't causing trouble, he was cleaning up the mess! This kind of behavior was definitely not that of a mere captain.
Because Li Chen took the initiative to do it, which is different from being forced to work.

At this very moment, at the center of this massive storm, Li Chen was leisurely reclining on a deck chair in his own courtyard.

Of course he wasn't afraid. Han Wu was indeed the Northern Army Commander whom he had personally selected and appointed. He was quite capable and loyal to the royal family.

Li Chen originally had a good impression of him, but who knew that his son would be such a despicable person!

I'm the emperor, and even though I'm here incognito, I still have to make my regular patrols. It's not that I don't allow you privileged kids to have some special privileges, like Feng Shuo, who slacks off at work and has fun after get off work; I'll just turn a blind eye to it.

Han Zhen, on the other hand, has been nowhere to be seen for over a month, causing trouble all day long? And he even dares to boast to me about who his father is.
Li Chen sneered inwardly. Don't ask why I hit him; I hit him because I want to! There's no one in the world I wouldn't dare to hit!

Tuoba Anyu, who was carefully serving him, didn't know why Li Chen was so angry today, but she could clearly feel the lingering anger and an indescribable, domineering arrogance emanating from him. She inwardly groaned, knowing that she would likely have to bear all of His Majesty's "wrath" alone again tonight. Just thinking about it made her plump, long legs feel weak.

As it turned out, Tuoba Anyu's premonition was entirely correct.

This night was destined to be another long and unbearable night of torment for her.

When Tuoba Anyu woke up the next day, she was trembling as she pondered a question: if the other concubines went out with Li Chen, they could always help Li Chen gain many more concubines, so they wouldn't have to suffer so much.

I was so insensible. I should find an opportunity to introduce more sisters to His Majesty so that I can have someone to share the burden.

With that in mind, she applied some ointment and, once she could walk again, began searching for beautiful women.

Meanwhile, the news spread like wildfire throughout the north.

Inside the city of Holy Mountain, the newly appointed Khan Huyan Lan was furious when he learned that his own nephew had been severely injured and imprisoned by a mere captain at Hantie Pass!
He slammed his hand on the armrest of the throne, causing the inlaid jewels to tremble: "Outrageous! I am the Northern Khan, personally appointed by His Majesty Tian Ce, and I rule over the grasslands! To hit my nephew is to slap me in the face! If I don't teach that Han Tie Guan a lesson, wouldn't I become a laughingstock as Khan?!"

He immediately mustered his elite personal guards and marched menacingly toward Hantie Pass, determined to demand an explanation.

Meanwhile, in the main camp of the Northern Army, inside the tent of Commander Han Wu, the atmosphere was slightly different.

Han Wu frowned as he looked at the message sent by his trusted confidant.

His good-for-nothing son had been beaten half to death, and as a father, he was naturally filled with both anger and pain.

But as the supreme commander of the Northern Army, in charge of hundreds of thousands of troops, and of noble status, how could he easily leave the central command tent and personally go to a small border garrison to question someone over such a "trivial matter" as a brawl between children? That would be far too unbecoming of him.

He pondered for a moment, then instructed the person outside the tent: "Have Han Qi come over here."

A sharp-eyed, well-trained captain of the personal guard entered and bowed to receive orders.

Han Wu said in a deep voice, "Go to Han Tie Guan, find that captain named Cheng Li, and 'invite' him over. Tell him that I want to see him."

He emphasized the word "please," but it didn't mean he intended to use force.

Captain Han Qi accepted the order and was about to turn and leave.

"Wait a minute." Han Wu suddenly called out to him again, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, and added, "Be more polite. This kid knows Zhen'er's identity and still dares to use such force. He's either a complete madman or he has something to rely on. Perhaps, he's a good prospect."

Han Wu's plan was to repay evil with kindness, to first assess Cheng Li's character, and if he was truly talented, perhaps he could recruit him, give him a good talking-to, and then promote him.

He doesn't consider himself a petty person, but the fact that his son was beaten is not something he can simply laugh off.

Almost at the same time, in the capital, deep within the imperial palace.

(End of this chapter)